Cultivator



Patented Jan. 3; I899. J. w. RATCLIFF.

G llLT l V AT 0 R (Application filed Apr; 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN XV. RATCLIFF, OF VVEBBVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CU LTIVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,971, dated January3, 1899.

Application filed April 2 5, l 8 98.

T0 coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN WV. RATCLIFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Webbville, in the county of Lawrence and State of Kentucky,have invented a new and useful Cultivator, of which the following is aspecification.

This invent-ion relates to agricultural implements embodying in theirconstruction a fixed beam, to which the handles and draft are applied,and a laterally-shiftable beam having pivotal connection with the fixedbeam, whereby furrows may be formed at any required distance apartwithin the limit of range of movement of the adjustable beam.

The purpose of the invention is to improve the construction of thisclass of implements and admit of the shiftable beam being moved from oneside to the other of the fixed beam, to simplify the construction, and.to provide an implement which will be strong, lasting, and capable ofbeing easily managed and drawn over the field by the application of acomparatively light draft.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a.full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plowconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a top planview, the dotted lines showing the movable plow-beam shifted from oneside of the implement to the other. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 is adetail section of the cross-piece, showing the relation of the movableplow-beam.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the drawings by thesame reference characters.

The fixed plow-beam 1 has its rear end curved, forming a standard 2, towhich a plowpoint of any desired make or pattern is secured. The frontend portion of the beam 1 fierial No. 678,800. (No model.)

is reduced and bent back upon itself, forming a loop 3, to which thedraft is applied. The handles 4 are secured to the beam 1 ata pointmidway of its length and have their position fixed by braces 5, whichare made fast at their lower ends to the rear portion of the beam 1 andincline upwardly and outwardly and are bolted at their upper ends to thehandles intermediate of their ends.

A cross-piece 6 is rigidly attached at a middle point to the beam 1 andis formed with an arcuate slot 7. This cross-piece curves throughout itslength to conform to the slot 7 and is depressed in its upper face,bordering upon the slot 7, so as to admit of the head portion of thebolt or fastening 8 coming below the plane of the top side of thecrosspieceand not interfere with the beam 1. The beam 1 is let into theupper side of the crosspiece, and the latter is formed upon its rearportion with lugs 9, which embrace the sides of the beam 1 and serve tostrengthen and brace the cross-piece and result in a firm and rigidstructure.

The shiftable beam 10 has pivotal connection at its front end with thebeam 1, and its rear end portion is curved downwardly and receives ashovel or plow-point, according to the nature of the soil and thecondition of the work to be performed. The bolt 11, upon which the beam10 turns, serves to connect the folded end of the beam 1 with the bodyportion thereof, and the cross-piece 6 and the slot 7 thereof are formedon the arc of a circle having the bolt 11 as its center. The bolt orheaded fastening 8, applied to the rear portion of the beam 10, operatesin the slot .7 of the cross-piece 6 and serves to support the rear endof the beam 10 and prevent relative upward movement of the beam 1. Thebeam 10 is of less length than the beam 1 and can be moved from one sideof the main beam to the other, as indicated by the full and dotted linesin Fig. 2, and can be adjusted to an intermediate point between theextreme movements, so as to cause the shovel or plow-points to track asclose together or as far apart as required.

Suitable means are resorted to for securing the beam 10 in an adjustedposit-ion and consists of latch-plates 12, pivoted at their inner IOOends to the middle portion of the cross-piece 6 and having their outerends reduced and bent laterally, forming stops 13, which overlap thecross -piece and limit the relative downward movement of the pivotedplates. These plates have notches 145 in their lower edges to embracethe sides of the beam 10 and secure it against lateral movement whenshifted to the required position. The outer ends of the plates terminatein shoulders 15, which engage with the side of the beam 10 facing thebeam 1, so as to prevent inward movement thereof, the outward movementof said beam being prevented by the headed fastening 8 engaging with theclosed end of the slot 7. The sides of the beam 10 are indented, so asto be engaged by the shouldered portions of the pivoted plates 12,thereby guarding in a measure against vertical movein cut of the pivotedplates after the parts have been adjusted. Lugs 16 are formed at theupper edges of the pivoted plates, and cords 17 connect therewith andpass through guideeyes applied to the handles and cross-piece connectingthe handles and extend within convenient reach of the attendant, so asto be pulled upon to disengage either plate from the beam 10 when it isrequired to release it to admit of the said beam being shifted to a newor desired position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beam,and a shiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the otherof the fixed beam, of a securing device for holding the shiftable beamin any of its adjusted positions, and separate releasing means for thesecuring device, said means being mounted in normal reach of theoperator, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beam,of a shiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the other ofthe fixed beam, a securing device for holding the shiftable beam in anyof its adjusted positions, and separate means for releasing the securingdevice, said means comprising a cord or like connection mounted inguides provided upon the handle of the implement and in normal reach ofthe operator, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a fixed plow-beamand a crosspiece applied to the fixed plow-beam and forming a guideway,of a shiftable plow-beam pivotally connected at its front end to theforward end of the fixed plow-beam, a positive connection between thecross-piece and shiftable plow-beam, and a movable plate applied to thesaid cross-piece and constructed to make positive engagement with theshiftable plow-beam and secure it in the required ad-- justed position,substantially as set forth.

4. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beamand a crosspiece applied to the fixed plow-beam and forming aguideway,of a shiftable plow-beam pivotally connected at its front endto the forward end of the fixed plow-beam and having direct connectionwith the cross-piece, plates pivoted at one end .to the cross-piece uponeach side of the fixed plow-beam and adapted to make positive connectionwith the shiftable plow-beam, and'a connection applied to the pivotedplates for simultaneously operating them, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a plow-beam, a crosspiece secured to the mainplow-beam and having the latter let into its top side and braced by lugsof said cross-piece, a second plow-beam having pivotal connection at itsfront end with the main plow-beam and adapted to be swung horizontallybeneath and from one side to the other of the main plow-beam, a headedfastening applied to the pivoted plow-beam and operating in a slot ofthe cross-piece, plates pivoted at their inner-ends to the cross-pieceand having notches in their lower edges to engage with the pivotedplowbeam and secure it in an adjusted position, and connections appliedto the pivoted plates for operating them, substantially as set forth.

6. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a fixed plow-beam, ashiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the other of thefixed beam, a securing device in the form of a pair of latch-platesprovided upon oppositesides of the fixed beam and adapted to hold theshiftable beam in any of its adjusted positions, and separate means forsimultaneously operating both latch -plates, comprising a cord orsuitable connection attached at its opposite ends to the respectivelatch-plates and mounted upon the handles of the implement in normalreach of the operator, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN \V. RATCLIFF.

\Vitnesses:

J. L. PATTERSON, JOHN W. KITCHEN.

